Professor Muhammad Yunus led interim government sits with the political parties today to discuss over the six reform commissions and the current law and order of the country.
The dialogue is scheduled to begin at 2:30pm with the participation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party at the State Guest House Jamuna, official residence of the Chief Adviser.
BNP sources said that BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir would lead the delegation to hold the talks.
‘‘Chief Advisor Prof Muhammad Yunus has invited us for the talks and we will join the dialogue. We have nothing more to say about it,” BNP standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told reporters on Friday.
This will be the third round of talks between the government and political parties after the formation of the interim government led by Professor Yunus following the fall of Sheikh Hasina led government amid a mass upsurge.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters that the political parties had been invited to join the dialogue. “The Chief Advisor will talk to the political leaders,” he said.
As per the schedule, the BNP will join the talks at 2:30pm, Jamaat-e-Islami 3:00pm, Ganatantra Mancha 3:30 pm, Left Ganatantrik Jote 4:00pm, Hefazat E Islam 4:30pm, Islami Andolon, Bangladesh 5:00pm and AB (Amar Bangladesh) Party 5:30pm.
Ganatantra Mancha leader Jonaid Saki, chief coordinator of Ganasanghati Andolon, said that the Ganatantra Mancha would go for the dialogue as they had been invited.
“We will listen to the Chief Advisor of the interim government and give our statement about the overall situation of the country,” he told reporters.
Moulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, joint secretary general of Islami Andolon, Bangladesh, said the chief advisor called them to discuss the reform commissions. “We will go and see what the chief advisor says.”
Earlier on 19 September, Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul said the interim government would not hold any discussion on state reforms with the Awami League as the party committed ‘genocide’ during the student-led mass uprising.
He said that the government would hold discussions on reforms with political parties other than AL, civil society organisations, professionals' organisations, student organisations, and others.
On 5 September, the interim government decided that the ‘fascist’ Awami League will not get any opportunity to exercise political activities until its trial is completed.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the advisory council with Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus in the chair.
After the political changeover, the BNP, which remains out of office since 2007, has been urging the interim government to hold talks with the political parties within the quickest possible time to assess the aspiration of the people.
Some 45 political parties have been registered with the Election Commission. Many parties, including Jamaat-e Islami, are active in the political arena despite its registration has been cancelled with the EC.
